Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)

by Liz Tomforde

It had to be her. I’d recognize that face anywhere. Those hazel eyes. That wavy hair, which is so much shorter than it used to be. It may have been six years since I last saw her, but I’d never forget.

God, she looked good. She always looked good, though, so that wasn’t much of a surprise.

Regardless, she’s somehow even more beautiful than the last time I saw her, and that pisses me off. Because first off, how is that possible?

She’s so goddamn beautiful. So hardheaded still. For a moment, I let myself remember how overwhelming it felt to be near her.

She used to steal all my thoughts. She used to occupy my entire existence.

I’ve spent six years subconsciously comparing every date to her. Comparing their laugh to hers. Their kindness to hers. Their confidence to hers. Their taste in music to hers.

I’ve had a soft spot for Hallie Hart since the day I met her, and as my resolve slips away, I realize that softness hasn’t changed one bit in the years since I last saw her.

It’d make my life a whole lot easier if I could care less about this girl.

Those hazel eyes flash with hurt and I hate that almost as much as I want to hate her.

Fucking beautiful. She always has been though.

But beyond that, I remember my other favorite things about her. She’s strong yet caring. Determined yet kind. There was a time when my absolute favorite thing in the world was to simply be with her. If I would allow myself to admit it, I missed Hallie Hart.

“Yeah, well you’re not his, so tell him to keep his hands to himself too.” Her eyes drop to my mouth. “I’m not yours either.” We’ll see.

“You sure look good in my shirt for not being mine.” “Get fucked, DeLuca.” I smile as I open the door. “Would love to. You just let me know when and where, Hart.”

When I take our exit, I change my mind and get right back on the expressway. God knows I’m not going to get any sleep tonight anyway, so she may as well.

Her eyes are all sparkly as she looks up at me, and I take it in. There’s nothing I crave more than these moments when she has her attention on me.

He looks up at me, his eyes and smile equally soft. “Anything for you, Hal.”

His attention moves back to my mouth, once again asking the question, “You single, Hal?” I finally give him the long-awaited answer, nodding to tell him yes. “Good.” He takes a slow predatorial step towards me, tone sharp and leaving no room for question. “Because we aren’t fucking friends.”

WOAHHH

But if anyone told me not to spend time with Stevie, I’d be quick to reevaluate that person’s importance in my life.

I never forgot him. I never forgot us. And apparently, neither did he.

I wouldn’t forgive me either.

Regardless of what I didn’t know at the time, she wins. Hallie has every right to hate me.

Ouch.

“Well, I know that technically, these are your best memories, but they’re mine too. Meeting on that roof, listening to music. Getting the opportunity to fall in love with you is my best memory, and all I can do is hope that one day you’ll let me do it again.”

God, she’s beautiful. Has she always been this beautiful?

The easy answer is yes. I’ve known almost every iteration of this woman and have loved each version. She has been my favorite person since I was twelve, and fifteen years later, that hasn’t changed.

“It’s always been you, Hallie, and I think we both know it.”

“Rio.” Her eyes bounce between mine. “You should know. It’s always been you too.”

I pull him down to kiss me. “I’m all in too. It’s you and me.” Again is what I’m tempted to say, but for good feels more accurate.

But if there ever comes a time that I need to choose which relationship to keep safe, I won’t make the same mistake twice. I’ll choose Hallie every time.

Honestly, I just love her. But that’s nothing new.

It’s okay that it’s one of those unspoken things. I know that Hallie loves me the same way I love her.

It’s everything she told me she wanted, and there was a part of me that hoped if both it and I were here waiting for her, she’d somehow find her way home.

Rio’s mom is his only family. He loves her the same way I love my dad, and I won’t be the reason that relationship falls apart. I refuse to be.

Hallie, don’t you fucking dare

The only other person I wanted to go to was Rio, but I couldn’t tell him. As soon as I say the words out loud, it’ll mean they’re real, but I’m not ready for them to be real yet.

I shake my head. “If I were in your shoes, I probably would’ve been horrible to me too.”

“I’d do anything for you, Rio.” Her eyes bounce between mine. “Anything.”

“I love you, Hallie Hart. Spoken or unspoken, I’ve always loved you.”

“No, Hal. I was talking about my mom. I didn’t know how I was going to tell her,” I explain. “She’s been planning on me moving back here for years now. And I didn’t know how it’d work with her visiting Chicago because she wouldn’t be allowed to stay with us if she continued to have an issue with our relationship.”

“Rio, playing for Boston is your childhood dream.” I shake my head. “You’re my childhood dream.”

“Some dreams have changed, but others have remained the same.” I brush her hair behind her ear. “I love the city we live in. I love my team. I love my friends. And I love you. We lost six years, Hallie, and I’m not missing another day of you again.”

“Happy birthday, baby.” “Thank you for making it my favorite one yet.”

My smile blooms as I look down at her. I truly could not love this woman more than I already do. But I thought that yesterday and the day before. Shit, I thought that a decade ago, and daily, I’m proven wrong. Because each new day, I fall for her a little more.

“I love you, Hal.” She turns back, smiling at me. “I love you, Rio. Always have. Always will.”

Before, when we were kids, I felt lucky. Love fell into our hands. We were neighbors turned friends who eventually fell in love. But this time, it feels like we earned it. We get to be in love because we worked for it. We decided to forgive and understand one another.

This second chance doesn’t feel like luck. It feels like a reward.

I’ll speak for all ten of us when I say, there’s nowhere else we’d rather be.

SHUT UP THIS WAS THE MOST PERFECT ENDING